Maine's CHOICES CEO Project
Working Together News
A newsletter about Maine's efforts to increase work opportunities for people with disabilities
SPECIAL EMPLOYER ISSUE!
In Focus
Maine Employers are Working Together!
A group of Maine businesses and organizations have joined in a new business-to-business network that is sharing experiences and resources to further employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. The group is called Working Together, and members include L.L. Bean, MEMIC, and Mad Gab’s. CHOICES CEO recently provided resources to support the development of materials for this initiative.
On May 10, Working Together made its public debut at two major business gatherings in Maine. The first of these was the 12th annual Maine Human Resources Convention in Rockport. Over 600 human resource professionals from Kittery to Fort Kent attended this important event. There were more than 50 sessions and 80 speakers. Merritt Carey and Larry Glantz presented a workshop titled, "Employing People with Disabilities: Tapping into Unrealized Potential." For a copy of the paper distributed at the workshop, chose MS Word version or PDF version.
The Working Together information booth premiered at both the Human Resources Convention Expo, which included over 50 displays and venders, and at Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility’s Sustainable Business Conference in Freeport, Maine. The display features the Working Together logo and website , a list of current business partners, and photos of Maine workers at partner worksites.
More information on the Working Together initiative can be found at: www.expandingmainesworkforce.com.
Legislative Report
This has been an active spring for the Commission on Disability and Employment. There have been several bills before the legislature that, if passed, would expand employment opportunities for the 120,000 working-aged adults with disabilities in Maine. Two bills were passed unanimously by the Joint Standing Committee on Labor that address directives contained in Public Law 570, An Act To Create Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities, which was passed last year.
One of these bills is LD 1032, An Act to Improve Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Maine. If passed, the bill would fund the position of Disability Employment Services Coordinator, which had been discontinued previously. The other bill is, LD 1467, Resolve, To Create Improved Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities. If passed, it would implement the recommendations of two reports that were required by Public Law 570. One report recommends the creation of new supported-employment opportunities for people served by the DHHS Office of Adults with Cognitive and Physical Disabilities. The second report recommends that the Maine Jobs Council organize a Public and Private Sector Task Force that would develop a marketing plan to reach employers and people with disabilities.
Another bill of interest is LD 1746, An Act to Improve MaineCare
and Promote Employment, which would increase the unearned income
level for participants in the MaineCare Workers with Disabilities option.
Also, testimony on the Dirigo health plan has been submitted; the testimony
describes the importance of health care for people with disabilities
who are returning to work.
The Commission on Disability and Employment has also been monitoring
special education rules and advocating that Maine continue the practice
of starting transition planning at age 14 for students with disabilities.
This has been a very challenging year to get additional funding for the employment needs for the estimated 60,000 working-age adults with disabilities that are living in poverty. Proposed budget cuts have targeted services essential for basic needs and advocates have been fighting hard to keep them. Despite these challenges, our message has been well received; however we will need to maintain a strong presence to be able to secure the funds needed to help Mainers with disabilities become economically self-sufficient and gainfully employed.
If anyone has questions or would like to find out more details on the Commission's activities please contact Mel Clarrage at the Disability Rights Center at (800) 452-1948 or mclarrage@drcme.org
State Affairs
New Brochure Highlights State Employment Opportunities
A new brochure highlights the pathways to state employment for people with disabilities. It identifies opportunities that are available to clients of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, in addition to discussing state employment options for all people with disabilities. The brochure will be distributed to CareerCenters statewide.
The information was developed by the CHOICES CEO project, the Maine Bureau of Human Resources and the Department of Labor. It is an outcome of the executive order signed by Governor Baldacci last year that establishes the Maine state government as a model employer of people with disabilities.
The brochure will be the cornerstone for additional CareerCenter staff training, and ultimately, part of reaching the goal of more access to state jobs for workers with disabilities. It will be available to the general public at CareerCenter job fairs. To download a copy of the brochure, chose PDF version or MS Word version.
WE NEED EVENTS!!
for Disability Employment Awareness Month
Are you or your organization interested in holding an event (of any size) during October's Disability Employment Awareness month?
If so, contact Vanessa Bell at vbell@usm.maine.edu or (207) 228-8111.
Ideas for Stories
Please help us… we are seeking stories! Do you know of a worker or employer that we can feature in our newsletter? Please contact Leslie Pohl.
Spotlight on Employers
Wild Oats Bakery & Café
Brunswick, Maine
The Wild Oats Bakery & Café has been providing breads, cakes, cookies and pies to customers in Brunswick, Maine since 1991. Over the years, the bakery’s staff, menu and reputation have grown. In addition to baked goods, the bakery now offers hot entrees, sandwiches and soups, and its staff numbers over 20. When we learned that The Wild Oats Bakery & Café has significant experience employing workers with a disability, we decided to talk with owner Becky Shepherd to learn more.
Becky said that having employees with disabilities tends to bring people together and reinforces community. “Our employees give each other rides home and provide each other with social support,” she said. “People are reminded that they need to treat all people equally, and that everybody has a right to contribute and does contribute to our productivity.”
Becky’s philosophy is reflected in her bakery’s mission statement:
“We make friendly, helpful customer service the number one priority; we offer a safe and respectful work environment, where we promote open communication and reasonable accommodations for our staff; we provide the necessary tools and ingredients to consistently produce the creative and delicious products we sell; we stay aware of the needs of our staff and our community; we make donations of time and product to help other organizations succeed, and make the Mid Coast area a better place to live and work.”
Management takes an active role in looking for accommodations. Most are fairly minor, such as including a picture of a tomato in instructions for an employee who can’t read, and enlarging the type of a recipe for a worker with a visual impairment.
Initially, Becky was approached by the Independence Association, a local agency that assists adults and children with disabilities. Independence Association had a client with mental retardation who was looking for work. Becky hired him and the agency provided support for both the employee and the bakery’s management.
Becky also hired a number of employees through Work Enterprises of Westport Island (an organization that is no longer in operation). Work Enterprises, in conjunction with the Maine Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), provided good workers and much needed support and training.
Currently, Wild Oats Bakery & Café does not receive agency support for their employees with a disability. “A lot has changed in 16 years,” commented Becky. “We used to receive some financial assistance for training, skills testing and support. Currently, we work directly with individuals with a disability and it’s not clear if they receive any agency supports.”
Becky said that you “always be on your toes” regarding human resource issues. “Constant sensitivity training is a challenge for us as an employer but it helps all of our employees,” she said. “We have a very diverse crew and must always reassess to make sure the work environment is supportive for everyone.”
Becky has a few comments for other employers planning to hire people with a disability:
- “You have to be somebody that has a positive attitude and is flexible.”
- “The challenges will have a positive impact on your business and environment.”
- “Hiring people with disabilities is valuable to the workplace and to the larger community.”
The Wilds Oats Bakery and Café is located at the Tontine Mall,
149 Maine Street,
Brunswick. For more information, visit http://www.wildoatsbakery.com.
Updates
Youth a Highlight at the Center for Workers with Disabilities Conference
In May, CHOICES CEO project staff attended the Center for Workers with Disabilities annual conference in Boston. The Center is one of two technical assistance providers to Medicaid Infrastructure Grantees, of which the CHOICES CEO project is one.
The conference focused on several topics, including youth in transition, asset development, and engaging businesses as employers. A conference highlight was a discussion about the options young people have to support further education and employment such as Career Centers and disability support services at colleges. Coordinating these options may be one way to increase opportunities for youth. For more information about this conference, contact Carolyn Gray at cgray@usm.maine.edu.
New on the Web
Working Together: Expanding Maine’s Workforce
A website for Maine businesses to share information about the advantages
of hiring workers with disabilities. Visit
the site at www.expandingmainesworkforce.com
Mark Your Calendar
Maine
Employment Curriculum training
June 2 – December 31, 2007
9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.
A comprehensive curriculum on best practice employment supports for individuals
with disabilities. Visit http://cciserver.ums.maine.edu/mecsearch/mecsearch.aspx to
find times and locations across Maine.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Common Man, Concord, NH
